St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-28
GAZING At CORPSES.'
A QUINTET OF LADIES IN A SAN
FRANCISCO MEDICAL COLLEGE.

"A QUINTET OF LADIES IN A SAN
| FRANCISCO MEDICAL COLLEGE.
Brave Schoolgirls in Search of Anatomi-
cal MISUNDERSTANDING the Horrors OF
the DisSecting Room-In No Hurry to
Go Away.
The sad eyed ianitor of the Cooper
Medical college was carefully picking a
handsome cadayer the other afternoon,
when his work was interrupted by the
appearance of four bright eyed, rosy
checked damsels aud lady, who, though
slightly out Of her teens, has lost none OF
the charms of young womanhood AS the
five approached the janitor threw cloth
over the pickle vat and in some surprise
asked the young ladies what they wanted
"We have come to see-We want TO see,
you know-weu, we have come to look at
the college" said the eldest Of the four
girls, blushing flightfully and conteln-
plating the cracks in the floor with great
earnestness. But, my dear young lady,
this il cr-cead bodies, said the janitor,
very 1auch embarrassed. The young ladies
looked at each other, and painful silence
ensued, until the first speaker produced
letter from q leading physician and a
member of the college faculty, ordering
the janitor to show the girls around the
place. "This settles it," said the janitor,
but he shook his head obviously, as with
slow, protesting steps and niggardiness
of welcome, he introduced some show
specimens to thei, notice. 'They will be
bringing q kindergarten here next, to give
the infants object lessons In anatomy"
grumhIed the articulator Of skeletons, as
he carefully killed a fly which was brows-
ing on the occipital bone Of a late decd
ent. "But it is all right; if the faculty
can stand it, | can. -
ON KNOWLEDGE BENT.
The young aides meanwhile made the
most Of their time and inspected carefully
the anatomical wonders which the physi-
clan ordered laid open to them. Such all
unusual thing rs the visit OF four young
girls To such Il place naturally attracted
notice, aud it was stated that the girls
were part Of 4 class in one of the public
schools and their chaperone was their class
teacher This was found 10 he correct,
and the teacher admitted that she had in
trOdrced object lessons in anatomy as
course for girls after school hours. One
of the studies laid down this year is fe
male physiology. and during the course of
one OF the teachers lectures she remarked
that She had gaZed upon the spinal col
ulnD Of man once. and it was as large as
her thumb, which she would not have
credited without actual sight.
The girls were amazed and their curios-
ity was aroused. II their teacher had
viewed the remains Of corpse why should
not thsy2 WIS their modest interrogatio ton.
Some G them have an ambition to be-
come noted members of the medical fra
ternity, and as the books had not arrived
FROM the east, and not chart or anything
that would give them authentic inforlna-
ton was in their possession, they held q
hasty consultation and decided to visit the
medical college They asked the teacher
to accompany them. She. anxious to as
sist them in their research Tor knowledge,
willingly gave her consent.
TOOK IT ALL IN.
The instructions to the janitor were
final, ard told him what rooms to show
them through They passed from one
room to another, expressing their delight
and satisfaction as they bcheld objects
which were Of uncommon interest, and
mysteries were raised. Il guess you will
not want to 90 in here. said the ianitor
as they came to the disSeCting room.
Are they cutting up any onc.' asked The
oldest girl modestly. while the teacher
held back, repenting that she had left her
boarding house. The janitor informed
them that operations in that room were
suspended for the present, and the young
ladies said they would go in.
No" exclaimed the teacher with ami
nation, there might be subject in there
In a high state of decomposition. But
the girls thought that not to visit this de-
partment would spoil the feature of the
"trip, and they went in. On q marble slab
was magnificent specimen of fenlininity,
and just opposite was an Adonis in the
sleep Of the blest, ready for the cruel cary
ing of the dissecting knife. The sight
Was one that would cast terror into the
hearts of the superstitious if viewed on a
dark night, but the young ladies beheld
the anatomical wonders with interested
and marked composure. On these OBJ
Iects their eyes became entranced, and it
was with some physical effort that their
teacher encouraged them to leave the dis
secting parlor and go into another room
where ii complete assortment OF medical
could be seen in glass Jars.
Since visiting the museum of natural
wonders the young Indies feel much en-
outraged and have taken up the new study
With fresh energy.-James Harvie in
Pioneer Press.